Bears notes: Greg Olsen fits much better with Carolina Panthers

LAKE FOREST — Former Chicago Bears tight end Greg Olsen will be back on the Soldier Field turf Sunday, but this time wearing a Carolina jersey.

Jay Taft

LAKE FOREST — Former Chicago Bears tight end Greg Olsen will be back on the Soldier Field turf Sunday, but this time wearing a Carolina jersey.

According to most, he is a much better fit for the Panthers’ offense than he was in the Mike Martz-run Bears offense. The Bears use their tight ends as blockers first, receivers second. Carolina uses them differently.

“For us, our tight ends are used as receiving tight ends,” Carolina head coach Ron Rivera said. “When you’ve got a Jeremy Shockey and Greg Olsen combination that do a decent job blocking, but are more known for their ability to get downfield and catch passes, it’s great, because he fits exactly in that mold.”

Back in action

Safety Chris Harris, running back Marion Barber and guard Lance Louis were back to full speed at today’s practice, giving head coach Lovie Smith and his staff reason to believe they will be close to full strength as a team come Sunday.

“We’re getting a little bit closer to getting our entire roster back on the football field,” Smith said.

Neither Harris (hamstring), Barber (calf) or Louis (ankle) played last week, but they could all suit up Sunday. The team does not expect Earl Bennett (chest) or Gabe Carimi (knee) to play this week, while Major Wright and Barber are questionable.

Tight end Matt Spaeth (calf) sat out practice for the first time Wednesday. His status for Sunday’s game is also unclear.

WR Williams still hobbled

Although he played last week against the Packers, wide receiver Roy Williams said today that his groin pull is still slowing him down.

It was clear he was slowed by something on Sunday. He blamed it on the cold Midwest weather, but Sunday was fairly mild.

“I was pretty cold on the sidelines. I’m good to play. It’s just sitting on the sidelines, sometimes I get cold. You know, that Chicago weather, it’s chilly, not as hot,” Williams said.

“It (the injury) is holding me back a little bit. It’s still not 100 percent. I mean, this is just Week 3 of this thing, but it’s a lot better than what it was. I’ll be good to go.”

Reach Jay Taft at 815-987-1384 or jtaft@rrstar.com.

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